What is a Thyrotrope Adenoma?

A thyrotrope adenoma is a pituitary tumor that makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is normally secreted by the pituitary in order to control thyroid function. However, TSH secretion by these tumors stimulates the thyroid to make excessive thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) leading to hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include tremulousness, weight loss, heat intolerance, diarrhea, anxiety and palpitations. Thyrotrope adenomas are an exceedingly rare type of pituitary tumors. The most common causes of hyperthyroidism are primary thryoid disorders, including Grave's disease and thyroiditis, not pituitary tumors.

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What are the symptoms?

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Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include tremulousness, weight loss, heat intolerance, diarrhea, anxiety and palpitations. In addition, if the tumor is large, patients with thyrotrope adenomas may experience symptoms that any patient with a large tumor in the pituitary area may experience, including headaches, visual loss and/or deficiencies of other pituitary hormones.

What are the causes?

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Complications

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Patients with thyrotrope adenomas may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including tremulousness, weight loss, heat intolerance, diarrhea, anxiety and palpitations. These are reversible with treatment of the tumor.

Preparing for your appointment

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You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in endocrine (hormonal) disorders.

How are thyrotrope adenomas diagnosed? ?

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Thyrotrope adenomas are diagnosed with appropriate endocrine testing in conjunction with a pituitary MRI revealing a pituitary tumor. In such cases, usually hormones made by the thyroid (T4 and T3) are elevated, but the TSH levels are not suppressed as would be expected in primary hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism caused by a disorder of the thyroid gland itself, not the pituitary).

How are thyrotrope adenomas treated?

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The primary therapy for thyrotrope adenomas is surgery. When surgery does not achieve remission, radiation and/or medical therapy options are available. Somatostatin analogs are the most effective medications currently available for this disorder.

Profiles of the Neuroendocrine Clinic: In 1985 the Massachusetts General Hospital Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center was founded, in order to provide a multidisciplinary approach to patients with pituitary and hypothalamic disorders.

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